Latest News

Taranaki DHB’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr Jonathan Jarman, has a health warning for people heading to their favourite swimming spots over the warmer summer months.

He says “Unfortunately hotter weather can also mean that certain freshwater algae (called cyanobacteria or blue-green algae) grow very quickly and bloom creating potential health risks both to people and animals.

The people who work at Taranaki DHB are usually busy taking care of others. However their own health and wellbeing is just as important and the DHB is encouraging staff to embrace this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) theme and ‘let nature in to help strengthen their wellbeing - Mā te taiao kia whakapakari tōu oranga’.

Taranaki DHB confirmed this morning that in May 2018, the structural seismic performance of the DHB’s priority buildings at its Taranaki Base Hospital campus were reviewed by three expert engineering firms. The draft reports, completed from July, are currently under peer review.

Taranaki DHB’s regional screening unit has launched a new awareness campaign for its free B4 School Checks (B4SC) service, which aims to improve timeliness of parents’ accessing the check for their children.

Two confirmed cases of Meningococcal Disease in New Plymouth have prompted a reminder from Taranaki DHB Medical Officer of Health, Dr Jonathan Jarman for our community to be vigilant for signs and symptoms of the disease.

Taranaki’s rural communities are being warned to be on alert for illness caused by bacteria carried in the intestines of cattle and other animals which can cause severe gastroenteritis in young children.

Taranaki DHB’s Public Health Unit (PHU) will work closely with the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) over the next few months to improve the health of the community, starting with more drinking water fountains in public areas.

Five thousand mental health and addiction support workers will receive a pay increase next month with Health Minister Dr David Clark signing an agreement this morning which gives them the same pay rates as care and support workers.

Acting Prime Minister, Rt Hon Winston Peters, says the Government is naturally very disappointed nurses plan to strike on Thursday, having rejected the recommendation of their union to accept the District Health Boards’ latest pay offer.

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters and Health Minister Dr David Clark are pleased the District Health Boards have made a revised offer to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation that has seen the strike notice lifted for July 5.

Taranaki DHB has begun implementing contingency plans to ensure the safety of staff and patients, following the notice to strike by Nursing, Midwifery, and Healthcare Assistant NZNO members for 24 hours from 07:00am on 5 July until 7am Friday 6 July 2018.

Māori women and their whanau will now have better access to antenatal classes based on kaupapa Maori practices and principles, thanks to a new birth education programme launched at Taranaki DHB this week.

Budget 2018 lays the foundations for stronger, more sustainably funded District Health Boards (DHBs) that can deliver the services New Zealanders expect and deserve, says Health Minister Dr David Clark.

Society is failing the health and wellbeing of our children, according to Taranaki-based Paediatrician Dr Yvonne Anderson who is involved in a one-day forum called ‘Taranaki: where healthy children can flourish.’

The McBroom Estate allocates funding annually for health and disability needs in the Waverley and Patea communities. The estate is administered by the Taranaki District Health Board Trust Funds Committee.

A confirmed case of Meningococcal Disease in New Plymouth has prompted a reminder from Taranaki DHB Medical Officer of Health, Dr Greg Simmons for our community to be vigilant for signs and symptoms of the disease.

Taranaki District Health Board invites you and fellow community members to attend a Community Engagement forum with Chief Executive, Rosemary Clements, to learn about the DHB's plans and discuss improvement ideas.

As children head back to the classroom this term Taranaki DHB’s Public Health Unit is praising the efforts of another six local retail stores who have chosen not to sell sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) to children on their way to school.

The University of Auckland and Taranaki DHB, along with local leaders and health professionals will welcome 18 year five medical students to Hawera Hospital on Monday, to launch the University’s regional-rural medical programme in Taranaki.

Taranaki DHB is delighted to announce free Wi-Fi is now available at both Taranaki Base and Hawera Hospitals thanks to the generosity of PrimoWireless, the Taranaki owned and operated internet service provider company.

The Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) has released the ‘Learning from Adverse Events’ report for 2016/2017 today which puts consumers at the centre when reporting, reviewing and learning from adverse events.

A recent tobacco Controlled Purchase Operation (CPO) carried out in Inglewood, Stratford and New Plymouth showed most retailers in these areas were operating in compliance with the Smoke Free Environment Act and did not sell tobacco products or herbal smoking products to minors.

Taranaki DHB’s Public Health Unit has revamped one of the most popular health resources used in the community. The Snack Facts and Timonga Kai brochures, which are guides for families on healthy lunchbox snacks and drinks, have been given a new lease of life after being re-produced in both English and Te Reo Māori.

A range of free and low cost support services for whānau planning a pregnancy, expecting a child, or with young children will be on show at the Taranaki DHB’s Taranaki Maternity Services Roadshow in Stratford next week.

Taranaki patients needing Vascular and Urology services can now receive specialty healthcare faster, closer to home and with continuity of medical staff, thanks to the recruitment of Mr Murray Cox, vascular surgeon, and Mr James ‘Jimmy’ Johnston, urologist.

The Government will establish a new School of Rural Medicine within the next three years to produce more doctors for our rural communities, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

The McBroom Estate allocates funding for health and disability benefits for the Waverley and Patea communities. The Estate is administered by the Taranaki District Health Board Trust Funds Committee. See inside for the list of successful applicants for 2017.

Taranaki’s Bell Block community are working together to reduce school children’s consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, through supporting a Taranaki District Health Board initiative called ‘Tap into Water’ which promotes the implementation of water only guidelines in schools and community facilities.

Health Minister and Sport & Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has welcomed the release of ‘How We Eat’, a report that assesses evidence on eating behaviours and their influence on diet and body size.

Becky Jenkins, GM Planning, Funding and Population Health at Taranaki DHB, and qualified Doctor and current Medical Officer of Health at Taranaki DHB, Dr Jonathan Jarman share their views on immunisation.

Budget 2017 has committed $12 million over four years to fund the infrastructure needed to fluoridate more drinking water, say Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says an incentive scheme designed to increase the number of health professionals working in communities and roles that have traditionally been difficult to staff is making a real difference.

Budget 2017 will invest $38.5 million of new operating funding over four years to further support the staged implementation of the national bowel screening programme, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says.

Budget 2017 will invest an extra $224 million over four years in mental health services including $124 million in new innovative approaches, Social Investment Minister Amy Adams and Health Minister Jonathan Coleman say.

Taranaki DHB’s Public Health Unit is warning parents of rural pre-schoolers about a nasty toxin producing bacteria that spreads easily and can have life threatening consequences, especially for young children living on and around farms who are most at risk.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback into the draft Service Specification for Pathology and Laboratory Services in the Taranaki region. Feedback closed on Monday 3 April 2017 at 5pm and has now been collated.

Taranaki public health nurses and general practices are busy this month protecting a new group of young New Zealanders against HPV-related cancers, with changes to the National Immunisation Schedule now providing free HPV immunisation for everyone aged 9–26, including boys and young men for the first time.

It's no secret WOMAD is a family-friendly festival, and this year it has retained that title by teaming up with the Taranaki District Health Board again to offer the Parent Hub at this year’s festival.

The Taranaki Health Foundation will launch a new community campaign this week called ‘The Open Minds Project,’ which aims to raise funds for enhancements to Taranaki’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit currently being renovated.

A group of Bell Block residents are being encouraged to start a conversation about planning for their future and end of life care, thanks to a new Advance Care Planning (ACP) campaign launched by Taranaki DHB.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more parents are sending their children to school for the first time this week knowing their B4 School Check has picked up any potential health or development needs at an early stage.

With the Festive season here, Taranaki DHB has launched an awareness campaign which asks people the question, “Should you be at ED?” and aims to help educate the community about what is considered an urgent and non urgent health complaint.

Taranaki DHB has confirmed its strategic intent to change the way Pathology and Laboratory Services are delivered in Taranaki, and move to a single laboratory provider for hospital and community services.

Taranaki’s new National Child Health Information Platform (NCHIP) and Child and Youth Coordination Service (CaY-C) will begin back loading key health milestone information for approximately 8,000 Taranaki children onto the NCHIP system this week.

Taranaki DHB is endorsing the move by Ministry of Health, New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM) and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) to reassure the Taranaki community that maternity services in this region are robust.

Taranaki DHB’s Community Oral Health Service has successfully secured a grant to assist low income young mothers aged between 19-30 years, who are unable to afford to attend a dentist. This is called the ‘Wahine Toa Project.’

Taranaki DHB has recently launched a new parking campaign called ‘Are you parked in the right spot?’ which aims to review and reallocate parking spaces at Taranaki Base Hospital to improve parking for patients and health-related visitors.

A one-off partnership between Taranaki DHB and Rotary Taranaki means Taranaki men will be able to receive prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment much faster than before, thanks to the donation of a $45,000 transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) machine.

At 30 weeks pregnant, mother-to-be Lovely Tredente and her partner Mike, both understand the importance of being vaccinated against whooping cough for the good health of themselves and their unborn child.

Taranaki DHB confirmed today that two children aged less than 6 months old have developed whooping cough and a total of 37 people have been notified with the disease in Taranaki, so far this year. Most cases are in older people and the average age being 27 years old.

New Zealand’s leading experts in public health and alcohol harm, Professor Jennie Connor and Professor Doug Sellman, will be in New Plymouth this month to present the evidence that alcohol directly causes cancer.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is calling on clinicians to submit innovative ideas on healthcare.
“Clinicians have an insider’s view of where innovation can be applied to improve healthcare services,” says Dr Coleman.

A range of free and low cost support services for whanau planning a pregnancy, expecting a child, or with young children will be on show at the Taranaki DHB’s Meet Your Maternity Services Roadshow in Waitara this August.

Stroke is New Zealand’s third largest killer. Delayed recognition of a stroke can have tragic consequences, including further damage to the brain or death. From 5 June to early August is FAST awareness to help us all to recognise the signs of stroke.

A group of twelve trainee intern medical school students completing their final year of Medical School are getting on-the- job experience in Taranaki, thanks to a new partnership between the University of Auckland and Taranaki District Health Board (Taranaki DHB).

It's no secret WOMAD is a family-friendly festival and this year it’s taking it a step further by teaming up with the Taranaki District Health Board to offer a small Parent Hub at this year’s festival.

Good uptake of first year midwifery programme
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says there’s been a good uptake of an enhanced programme designed to strengthen the clinical expertise of midwifery graduates.

Māori students in Taranaki are gaining valuable work experience throughout secondary and tertiary education and in turn, contributing to the aim of decreasing Māori health inequalities thanks to the Why Ora employment pathways program run through Whakatipuranga Rima Rau (WRR) at Taranaki District Health Board.

The McBroom Estate allocates funding annually for health and disability needs in the Waverley and Patea communities. The estate is administered by the Taranaki District Health Board Trust Funds Committee.

Taranaki District Health Board (DHB) is the first of the five Midland DHBs in New Zealand to introduce the Datix safety learning system, which is an integrated electronic solution for the management of incidents, complaints and risk.

Children receiving treatment at Taranaki DHB’s Child Adolescent Community Centres (CACC) in Taranaki have a reason to smile, thanks to the donation of more than 70 teddy bears from customers of Calendar Club in Centre City.

Taranaki DHB, in partnership with Tui Ora and Nga Ruahine, are encouraging those in Taranaki who smoke to take up the 12-week WERO Challenge and quit smoking for good this new year. Those who choose to take part will be eligible to win up to $3,500.

The Government is working to gain a full understanding of treatment injury to inform a range of initiatives to reduce treatment injury rates, say Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman and Minister for ACC Nikki Kaye.

Taranaki DHB is supporting the week of White Ribbon Day, Wednesday 25 November, with a number of displays at Taranaki Base Hospital, including three 18-metre white ribbons outside the main entrance of Taranaki Base Hospital and two exhibitions in the main foyer.

On Tuesday 17 November the Taranaki Neonatal Trust is hosting a morning tea at Taranaki Base Hospital to raise awareness of World Prematurity Day and the issues faced by premature babies and their families.

Recent tobacco compliance checks in South Taranaki have indicated that 96 percent of retailers from Eltham to Waitotara were operating in compliance with the Smoke Free Environment Act and did not sell tobacco products or herbal smoking products to minors.

Health Minister and Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new high profile public awareness campaign starts today to encourage people to make healthy lifestyle changes to tackle obesity.

Taranaki DHB has recently launched a review of the current visitor policy in place at both Taranaki Base and Hawera hospitals and we will be talking to patients, visitors and staff as part of this review. This is a direct result of feedback from patients, families/whanau, visitors and staff

Taranaki DHB (TDHB) confirmed today it has entered into an agreement for 100% ownership of Fulford Radiology. Fulford Radiology Services Ltd (FRSL) is a joint venture company between Taranaki DHB and the radiologists.

Taranaki agencies and Government organisations are working together to prevent suicide and have developed a Suicide Prevention and Postvention Action Plan to reduce suicide and the impact it has on our community.

Taranaki DHB is practising what it preaches by implementing a new Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) guideline. SSBs such as standard Coca-Cola are no longer available for sale on DHB campuses, with the exception of flavoured milk and fruit juice up to 250ml and artificially sweetened drinks up to 355ml. The guideline will form part of Taranaki DHB’s overall nutrition policy.

In the build up to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) awareness day on Wednesday 9 September 2015, Taranaki DHB is reminding pregnant women and those who are planning to become pregnant to protect their unborn child’s health by avoiding all alcohol.